During a recent interview with QTV, in which a question was posed to Barrow about his plans regarding another term in office, especially in light of his advocacy for term limits, the President, who is the Secretary General and leader of the ruling National People's Party (NPP), unequivocally stated: "Let me provide you with a direct answer: Yes, I will be contesting in the next presidential election.”
He added: “This is not just about President Barrow; it's about the future of my party. My party is still in its infancy, and I believe we are not yet equipped to sustain losing our leader at this critical stage. My party is still very young and I don’t believe we are organized enough to handle losing our leader at this crucial moment.”
He further said: “It's not about the size of my party, but rather its stage of development and maturity, which is why we believe it's too early. We want to ensure our party has a lasting impact and does not fade away before it fully matures.
“My entire support base believes that my departure at this time would jeopardize the party's future, and I have no intention of risking its viability. I envision this party as a lasting institution in Gambian politics, and I am committed to ensuring its relevance for the next century.
“I have no personal experience in Gambian politics beyond the fact that I successfully defeated a dictator who had been in power for 22 years. We all believed that defeating Yahya Jammeh through the ballot box was impossible in this country. However, with God intervention, I managed to achieve that victory.
“Therefore, I have proven myself in that regard. I have demonstrated my capabilities during my presidency, and those around me—especially my former party—believed that my rise to power was solely due to their influence. However, fate intervened, and we parted ways. I ran against them and emerged victorious. So, I have effectively proven myself once again; what more do I need to demonstrate?”
Commenting on the Afro-barometer survey that claims the country is heading in the wrong direction and addressing whether he (Barrow) is confident about winning the next election, he said: “These opinions are subjective, as various organisations hold different views.
“In fact, there is an organisation called EIU that produced a comprehensive report, concluding that I am poised to win the next election.
“I am confident in my performance and believe I am doing a commendable job. I see no reason for the Gambian people to dismiss me. I am abiding by the law, not opposing anyone, not harming anyone, and not misusing executive power against anyone.”
Barrow further stated: “I firmly believe we are steering this country toward a brighter future. We are actively fostering development by launching groundbreaking projects across various sectors, including road infrastructure, education, healthcare, and a remarkable 110% salary increase, among others. In fact, by the end of this January, many individuals will experience the positive impact of the recent salary increase.
“Our revenue collection has also dramatically improved, exceeding our target by more than 1.5 billion dalasis. We have significantly increased our collections, and I believe we are doing an excellent job.”
Concluding, he said: “Ultimately, the decision rests with the Gambian people. That said, I am very confident that I will win the 2026 presidential election by a substantial margin.”
